Blog Posts

A Very Special Birthday

10/12/2025

Our Reception children were amazing in their nativity, A Very Special Birthday, today. They retold the Christmas Story with confidence, excitement and joy. We are so proud of how hard they had worked to prepare, and everyone played their part beautifully. It was a joy to watch them shine on stage, and we hope all their families enjoyed their fantastic performance.
We would especially like to thank our wonderful Year 6 Narrators for helping us tell the story—what true Wellgate Stars you are!

All About Us

1/12/2025

This week in Reception we learned about changes over time by looking at the children’s baby photos and talking about how they had grown. We compared what they could do as babies with what they can do now, helping them understand that all people change as they get older. Our key vocabulary for this learning included: baby, grow, change, past, now, then, similar, different, and older. Thank you for talking with your child at home about how they have changed as they’ve grown—it helped to deepen their understanding.

Self-Portraits

21/11/2025

This week, the children learned how to create their own self-portraits using powder paint. They explored the features of their faces by looking closely in mirrors and learned how to mix colours to create different skin tones and details. The children also developed important vocabulary such as “portrait,” “features,” and “shade,” and practised using paintbrushes with control. The children used their creativity, fine-motor skills, confidence, and understanding of what makes each of us unique.

Remembrance Day

14/11/2025

This week, the children learned about Remembrance Day. We talked about how it is a special time to say thank you to people who have helped to keep us safe, both in the past and today. The children learned that the poppy is a symbol of remembrance and made their own poppy crafts to help them think about kindness, bravery, and peace. We also spent a quiet moment reflecting on all the people who help and care for others in our community.

Bonfire Night

5/11/2025

The children have enjoyed exploring the traditions and history of Bonfire Night. We have talked about how to keep ourselves safe when we enjoy playing with sparklers and watch fireworks. Ask your child if they can tell you the beginning of the rhyme.
The children also had a wonderful adventure in the Wild Wood! They spent time exploring, being creative, and enjoying the outdoors. The children made nature sparklers using twigs, leaves, and other natural treasures. They also had lots of fun in the mud kitchen and they created fantastic firework pictures.

Halloween

24/10/2025

This week in FS2, we’ve had a spooktacular time celebrating Halloween! The children had so much fun dressing up in their fantastic costumes and dancing the day away at our Halloween disco. To finish the week, we enjoyed lots of pumpkin-themed activities — from washing and exploring pumpkins to using wooden hammers and golf tees to decorate them in creative ways. The children also used loose parts to design their own unique pumpkin decorations, showing wonderful imagination and fine motor skills. It’s been a week full of fun, laughter, and plenty of Halloween magic! 🎃🕸️👻

Diwali

24/10/2025

This week in FS2, the children have been learning all about Diwali – the beautiful Festival of Lights! They listened to the story of Rama and Sita, discovering how light triumphed over darkness and good over evil. To bring the story to life, the children even learned a special dance to retell the tale through movement and expression. They got creative by making their very own diva lamps using salt dough – mixing, shaping, and decorating them with care and sparkle. The fun didn’t stop there – the children also explored traditional mehndi designs, painting their own colourful and intricate patterns. It’s been a wonderful week full of creativity, culture, and celebration!

All about Autumn

30/9/2025

Over the last couple of weeks, the children have been fully immersed in exploring and learning all about Autumn! They excitedly brought in their autumn discovery bags filled with colourful leaves, conkers, and other seasonal treasures to share with their friends. Together, they created beautiful autumn colour wheels, noticing the rich reds, oranges, yellows, and browns that represent this special time of year. The children also enjoyed reading the story Pumpkin Soup, which inspired lots of imaginative play in the mud kitchen. They set up their very own “Pumpkin Café,” making pretend pumpkin spice lattes, exploring real pumpkins, and even creating their own versions of pumpkin soup. It has been a wonderful week of sensory exploration, creativity, and storytelling as we celebrate the magic of autumn. Take a look at our photos below:-

Starting School

23/9/2025

The children in Reception have had lots of fun over the last few weeks settling in to school. They have learned some of the routines of school, started to make new friends and explored our provision through play.
We have shared lots of familiar stories which the children are retelling both indoors and outdoors.

Reception Baseline Assessment

1/9/2025

Do you have a child starting Reception Class?
If so, your child will be participating in the reception baseline assessment (RBA)
within the first 6 weeks of starting reception.
The purpose of the assessment is to provide the starting point for a new measure
that will help parents understand how well schools support their pupils to
progress between reception and year 6.
What is the Reception Baseline Assessment?
The RBA is a short, interactive and practical assessment of your child’s early literacy, communication, language and mathematics skills when they begin school, using materials that most children of your child’s age will be familiar with. They are completed with a familiar member of staff within the setting. It became statutory for all schools from September 2021.
For more information, please refer to the guide below.